Ishq hua (Duet 1)

Chapter 10: Dark

Aira:

The few rituals that needed to be done were already over with and the guests had graced us with their gifts but as the clock ticked closer, I could feel it near me.

Varya who sat beside me along with Adira in her lap looked up from her phone, "Arsh wants you to meet a few of his friends if you are fine with it Aira?"

"Sure," I softly let out as she gave me a comforting smile and I got up making my way down the stage as my eyes fell on Ahikrti bhaiya walking towards Varya.

I tried to steady my nerves as I moved through the sea of guests. My hands were cold, my pulse creating havoc in my chest.

I could feel Arsh's eyes on me, burning into the side of my neck, though he was surrounded by a group of guests, effortlessly playing the charming host. He was too good at wearing that mask, the mask that hid his reality away. But he wasn't the only one who could pretend.

I plastered on a smile, barely stopping to greet anyone, it's not like I knew any of them as I made my way through the crowd. It made me miss my own family even more.

The buzz of chatter and laughter filled the room, but underneath it all, a thick tension pressed against me, making it hard to breathe. I just needed a few more hours - just long enough for the crowd to thin, for the eyes on us to grow tired, and then, I would slip away.

As I reached the edge of the room, I felt his presence before I saw him. Arsh was beside me in an instant, his hand gently pressing against the small of my back, sending a shiver down my spine.

"Aira," he murmured softly, his lips brushing against my ear. "Can you atleast try to hide the fact that you don't want to be here?"

I gave him a sarcastic smile shaking my head in no, as he looked at me agitated but didn't say anything. I forced myself to remain calm as he guided me toward a group near the front of the hall, the group drawing all the attention.

My eyes fell on the group, instantly recognising the couple who tried to save me from him, more like just Irisha did.
He had his hand wrapped around her as she kept her head on his chest, leaning against him and talked about about with the other two ladies besides her.

She looked so pretty and happy but there was something else, she glowed differently today. Wait is that? My god she is pregnant?

Awe!

Her husband was the first one to notice us, I guess feeling my eyes roam all over his wife.

"Finally decided to grace us with your presence, Arsh?" Veer Singh Raichand asked with a calm smile as his eyes went over to me and if he did recognize me, he wasn't surprised at all.

Irisha excitedly looked up and a gasp escaped her lips as soon as her eyes fell on me.

"Wait, you are..."

"Aira." I introduced myself noticing the other two couples, Abhimaan was also there.

She looked at me discreetly for a moment and then finally asked with a pout, "Have we met?"

"We definitely did."

She gasped as she looked over at Arsh and then me, repeating the process for a second. "Oh god and I was so guilty for leaving you behind that day, and you were married." Her sincerity caught me off guard. There was no pretense, no judgment - just care. I felt a momentary ease in her presence, but it quickly slipped away as I glanced at Arsh.

"Kind of."

The woman beside her stepped forwards, her eyes softly moving between the two of us as she asked Irisha, "You two know each other."